British Columbia sues OpenAI over Tumbler Ridge shooting

Attorney General Niki Sharma announced that the province of British Columbia has hired legal teams in both British Columbia and California to pursue a lawsuit against OpenAI. The action stems from internal OpenAI safety reports that flagged violent prompts made by 18‑year‑old Jesse Van Rootselaar on ChatGPT in June 2025, months before his February 10, 2026 attack in Tumbler Ridge that killed eight people – five students, a teacher, his mother and step‑brother – and injured 27 others.

OpenAI banned the shooter’s account but did not refer the activity to law enforcement, a decision the province says missed an opportunity to prevent the tragedy. The provincial claim will seek damages to cover costs such as rebuilding the secondary school and other community impacts, complementing a separate $200 million federal contribution for new facilities. Multiple lawsuits have already been filed by victims’ families in U.S. courts, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has publicly apologized for the failure to alert police.

The government’s move adds a corporate‑accountability front to the ongoing legal and investigative processes surrounding the shooting.